2022 Roland Garros QF: [3] Alexander Zverev vs Carlos Alcaraz [6]

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mike danny

Bionic Poster
Facepalm.

He has just turned 19 and almost took the match to the fifth set (where he would have been favourite) against the world number 3, who played one of the best matches of his career.

This forum is toxic sometimes. Do you really like tennis? ...
Oh, he almost took Zverev to 5, my jaw is on the floor..
 
Maybe some people were wrong thinking Alcaraz was the huge favourite against a consolidated top 5 player. But Alcaraz is not overrated or silly things like that. Zverev himself knows that he's gonna be better than him...
Knowbody knows that, sorry, there are all sorts stuff being on the tour , the fame, the maybe injuries, I don’t think with Alcaraz anybody dismisses his talent, but in this situation he was slightly overrated ie Zed was being completely dismissed
He has just lost to Zed, it was not a sure thing he would win, and this has just been proved
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
I only watched the first set and the highlights, but I noticed something that
should definitely be noted.

From all that I have seen of Alcaraz's game, it's his whole package that stands out.
That is, there isn't one particular shot or aspect of his game that shines above all the rest..
For Alcaraz, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

For example, teeing off from the baseline, Zverev has the definite advantage.
Zed's shots are more penetrating and he has far greater ease with his strokes.
Zed also has the advantage in the service department because of his height.

Alcaraz obviously has the advantage in the speed/court coverage department.
And of course his age gives him an advantage for endurance.

Despite Alcaraz's generous use of drop shots (he should use them even more often)
he still wasn't able to go toe-to-toe with Zed from the baseline.

So what does Alcaraz have to do against such a player to win b.o.5?
MIX IT UP MORE! Slice, dice, left right, drop etc. etc. rinse and repeat.
But don't get into long baseline rallies.
 

Johnny505

Professional
Alcaraz wins a point - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins another point - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins a game walking to his seat - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz sits down and grabs his towel - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz takes a drink - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz take a toilet break after a set - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz comes back on court after his toilet break - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins the next point from an unforced error from his opponent - fist pumps towards his team

He'll learn hopefully....
 
A bit of reality check after all the (justified but perhaps premature for rg) hype. Hopefully it leaves him stronger for it in the near term.
 

tennistiger

Professional
Anyone said that if Zverev wins FO he will be No 1 after Wimbledon when that points are gone and none added. May be earlier after Halle. If only FO Final he must win Halle.
 

Magneto89

New User
Picked and was rooting for Zverev to win. Glad he got his first Top 10 win at a Slam, and to do it against a surging Alcaraz, no less, was very impressive
 
I still think than Alcaraz is/will be a better HC player than Clay Court player, he has a lot to improve on clay but Zverev played really well, I never saw him playing that good on clay actually..kudos to him, the game vs Rafa should be interesting.
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
It was past time for the German giant to get that win. Excellent game plan.

Alcaraz obviously knew that he could not trade blow for blow and tried to get Alex moving.
 

NuBas

Legend
Alcaraz wins a point - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins another point - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins a game walking to his seat - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz sits down and grabs his towel - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz takes a drink - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz take a toilet break after a set - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz comes back on court after his toilet break - fist pumps towards his team
Alcaraz wins the next point from an unforced error from his opponent - fist pumps towards his team

He'll learn hopefully....

Its just his thing. Needs some ritual to pump himself up
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Facepalm.

He has just turned 19 and almost took the match to the fifth set (where he would have been favourite) against the world number 3, who played one of the best matches of his career.

This forum is toxic sometimes. Do you really like tennis? ...
Sorry, man, I don't think losing in 4 to Z is a good loss considering the hype around Carlos.
 

duaneeo

Legend
Sorry, man, I don't think losing in 4 to Z is a good loss considering the hype around Carlos.

I agree. Surely making two slam quarterfinals in just his 7th slam appearance is impressive, but Alcaraz losing to Zverev is not living up to the hype surrounding him at RG.

This disappointing loss has turned into a disaster...with the advancing Zverev suffering that horrific injury.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
I agree. Surely making two slam quarterfinals in just his 7th slam appearance is impressive, but Alcaraz losing to Zverev is not living up to the hype surrounding him at RG.

This disappointing loss has turned into a disaster...with the advancing Zverev suffering that horrific loss.
In fairness Z did back up his level from the Carlos match against Nadal. He just suffered an unfortunate accident.
 

jl809

Legend
Thought I’d revisit this today because everyone was so sure, far more so than about tomorrow, and look how it went. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition underwhelming exit, but we have seen that it can happen. Alcaraz has improved a lot since then, no doubt, but Djoker is also far less of a mug mentally than Abuserev, and an expert at making his opponents look like they’re not at their best…
 

Rattie

Legend
Thought I’d revisit this today because everyone was so sure, far more so than about tomorrow, and look how it went. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition underwhelming exit, but we have seen that it can happen. Alcaraz has improved a lot since then, no doubt, but Djoker is also far less of a mug mentally than Abuserev, and an expert at making his opponents look like they’re not at their best…
Yes Alcaraz played poorly by his standards. It happens to them all, including Djokovic. I don’t think anyone wants to see that for either player.
 

uscwang

Hall of Fame
Thought I’d revisit this today because everyone was so sure, far more so than about tomorrow, and look how it went. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition underwhelming exit, but we have seen that it can happen. Alcaraz has improved a lot since then, no doubt, but Djoker is also far less of a mug mentally than Abuserev, and an expert at making his opponents look like they’re not at their best…
Nice bump. I wasn't paying attention to this match back then.
Interesting that Alcaraz was Zverev's first top 10 victim after so many losses.
Also interesting is that Zverev just lost to Alcaraz in Madrid 3 and 1, further evidence that Madrid is not a good indicator for RG. Alcaraz' only 2 big titles on clay are from Madrid. He has yet to win a single slow clay big title.
 
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Slicehand

Guest
interesting comparing last years alcaraz to this ones, by the same mesure i could say he is 10 times better by the way he handled musetti compared to last year
 
In fairness Z did back up his level from the Carlos match against Nadal. He just suffered an unfortunate accident.
Openly admit I can't stand Zverev, but that was one time I genuinely felt bad for him. Although far from convinced he would have gone on to win the match or certain.

Another unfortunate thing about his injury there was we did not get to see if he would have carried his form on and gone on to win, or maybe lose due to Nadal raising his game/being too strong in the end, or if he would have folded mentally like usually in those situations. We were robbed of seeing which avenue that would have taken.
 
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